Car searching...total car n00b

RipVanWinkle · 11-19-2008, 11:05 PM

OK guys...heres my deal

My wife and I have a baby and travel frequently 3 hours from our home to spend time with family. The problem is that I have a single cab 01 Dodge Dakota, and my wife has a small, SMALL 06 Kia Rio5. It is difficult to go back and fourth...and when our nice parents give us stuff, there's not enough room in the car to make it all fit.

I'm also a youth pastor and am blessed with a large group. The problem occurs when we go on an event and only have one church van, and the Kia will only take one or two extra people.

So...I'm looking for some sort of 4-door SUV...preferably a full-size one, like a Tahoe or Yukon or Expedition or Suburban....not really a blazer or explorer. Honestly, I don't know ANYTHING about cars, so buying a used one kind of scares me a bit.

If any of you are familiar with Carmax, we are planning on selling my truck to one. They will "buy your car, even if you don't buy theirs." On trade-ins they basically cut you a check for your car, and you can apply it to the new car, or just walk out with it...same amount either way.

My dodge only has 56,000 miles on it, and I suppose I can get over 3,000 for it...hopefully close to 4. We've also got about $2-3000 that we can use to go with it...So the budget is somewhere from $5-7000.

Obviously it will be used. I was thinking 1998 or later. Hopefully at our under 100,000 miles. Also, I know gas prices are a concern (well...not at the moment), but that is something that is not a big deal...I get mileage reimbursement from the church.

I read over the 'used car guidelines' in the sticky...but here are a few questions I have

Is there a certain full sized SUV known to be longer lasting (like honda accords are)?
What should I expect to pay for something like this?
Would you recommend buying from a dealer, or person?
What are some big things to avoid?

Big_al · 11-19-2008, 11:59 PM

I don't know that 7k will go that far in the search for a large suv without tons of miles. With dealer fees and all that fun stuff you'd probably be better off buying from an individual if you can find what you need. I would say avoid a ford, but others would not....

***Art*** · 11-20-2008, 12:28 AM

Just one little note... Carmax, though they will buy your car, will likely not give you as much for it as elsewhere. And they don't negotiate at all.

gtrdave · 11-20-2008, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle

Is there a certain full sized SUV known to be longer lasting (like honda accords are)?
What should I expect to pay for something like this?
Would you recommend buying from a dealer, or person?
What are some big things to avoid?

There are still a lot of older Suburbans on the road. They're big, they're pigs, and they're so impractical for just 2 or 3 people, BUT there are a lot of them on the road, so...still, I personally like the first-gen Dakota-based Durangos w/ any one of the V8 powerplants (318, 360 or 4.7l). Smaller than a 'burban and seats 7. Plus, they don't roll over like early Explorers do...

SUVs are the target of hate right now so you can expect to pay less than you would have a year or more ago for one. We were recently looking at an '04 Durango Hemi Limited, loaded, 77k miles for less than $10k. That's stupid cheap.

I've always liked dealers...good dealers...as they will take care of you through warranty issues and such. That said, you'll likely get your best deal from a private party seller as they do not have the overhead that a dealer has and they're more likely to HAVE TO SELL and will probably haggle with you.

Big things to avoid...buying something that gets 10mpg...buying ANYTHING that hasn't been looked at by a mechanic that you trust...buying on impulse, not knowing that if you miss buying one vehicle you can rest assured that there are probably 10,000 more just like it for sale somewhere else...any Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer made before 2001 will likely try your skills at stunt driving on two wheels or less in the event of an unexpected accident avoidance move more than most other SUVs, so best to avoid them.

upperground · 11-21-2008, 09:52 AM

1977 econovan!!!!!!!!!!!!

3rdCrossBand · 11-21-2008, 10:13 AM

I gotta say, the Chevrolets are pretty darn reliable. The 5.3l and 6.0l engines have tons of power and they run forever. A few of my family members have the Silverado trucks and they haul heavy loads constantly and the trucks just keep running and running. The Tahoe's and 'Burbans have the same power plants.
Well, unless you get a pre- 2000 model. Then you'll most likley have a 350 (5.7l) or a 454, both are still very reliable.

A mini-van is also not a bad idea. The Quest and Odyssyes are very nice.

Some of the smaller SUV's have only a tiny bit more space than a 4 door sedan. So, make sure to really check out the cubic foot storage space.

RipVanWinkle · 11-21-2008, 10:36 AM

I've actually thought of a van...not a minvan, but one of those conversion? vans.

One of those that has the captain's chairs and the blinds in the windows...but decided against it

**redbaron** · 11-21-2008, 12:47 PM

i would look at a minivan, honestly. If you don't need the towing, or offroad capabilities of an SUV the minivan will do everything else you need to do and do it better, and getting better economy as well. Not to mention that insurance on an SUV is a lot higher as well.

If you do need an SUV, I would look at some of the toyota landcruiser/sequoia models though i'm not sure you're in the price range, since I haven't looked for one in quite some time.

mattslope · 11-22-2008, 11:04 AM

And the minivan drives nicer. It gets better fuel economy. It is easier to access a child seat through the sliding door. But it doesn't have the safety of... wait, SUVs are less safe than minivans thanks to that center-of-gravity thing.

mulletman · 11-22-2008, 11:21 AM

Get the original minivan.

VW.

You know, the one where your knees are the crumple zones.

RipVanWinkle · 11-22-2008, 01:47 PM

A minivan would fit the bill...

but I don't think we can do it. I mean...it would be 'my' car, and I dont think I can pimp a minivan just quite yet. When I ran the idea by my wife, she said "We are not getting a minivan"...so... we're not

Wolvrin704 · 11-22-2008, 08:57 PM

I second the SUV. Sometime next year I plan on selling my truck and getting a Tahoe or something similar myself. One thing I like is having a vehicle that I know can make it through most bad weather especially snow.

RipVanWinkle · 11-22-2008, 10:06 PM

I live in East TX, so bad weather ...umm... Its really hot ~~sometimes~~ all the time, but other than that (or the occasional hurricane), theres no real need for me to worry about that

mulletman · 11-22-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolvrin704

I second the SUV. Sometime next year I plan on selling my truck and getting a Tahoe or something similar myself. One thing I like is having a vehicle that I know can make it through most bad weather especially snow.

Rally cars make it through snow just fine. Trucks and SUV's are not required.

Wolvrin704 · 11-23-2008, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulletman

Rally cars make it through snow just fine. Trucks and SUV's are not required.

I grew up in Michigan, don't try to sell me on that. If its a small amount of snow I'll give ya that. And where I live they are notorious for salting first and then plowing later when it becomes a total mess.
I just noticed you said rally cars. Again they may do fine up to a point but in a true blizzard would be hampered by ground clearance. Plus I need something that can do various functions like haul stuff, pull a trailer and take the family on vacation with if needed. A rally car would not fit the bill with a family of 4 comfortably nor do the other intended jobs.